LIVE DAILY YOUR BAPTISM

“Jesus was baptized…” –Matthew 3:16

Mass Readings: January 9
First: Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7; Resp: Psalm 29:1-4,3,9-10; Second: Acts 10:34-38; Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

Baptism forgives and erases our sins (Catechism, 403, 405). Jesus never sinned. So why did He submit to Baptism? “The baptism of Jesus is on His part the acceptance and inauguration of His mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows Himself to be numbered among sinners” (Catechism, 536). In addition, the Father reaffirmed Jesus’ Sonship, which was important, since Satan was about to attack His status as God’s Son (Mt 4:3ff).

In accepting Baptism, “already [Jesus] is anticipating the ‘baptism’ of His bloody death. Already He is coming to ‘fulfill all righteousness,’ that is, He is submitting Himself entirely to His Father’s will: out of love He consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins” (Catechism, 536). This abandonment delights the Father, Who proclaims Jesus as His beloved Son (Mt 3:17).

God “anointed [Jesus] with the Holy Spirit and power” when He was baptized by John (see Acts 10:37-38). Likewise, we too were anointed. Let us be grateful for our own baptismal calling, which makes us Christians, brothers and sisters of Jesus, sons and daughters of the Most High God, forgiven of all sin, and priests, prophets, and kings by virtue of our Baptism (see Catechism, 1546).

Each day, bury your old, sinful nature and live your new, risen nature with Christ. Live daily your Baptism.

PRAYER: Father, I praise You for my Baptism into Your Son Jesus. Thank You forever for adopting me as Your child!

PROMISE: “I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice.”–Is 42:6

PRAISE: “All of you who have been baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Him” (Gal 3:27). Praise You, Jesus, beloved Son of the Father!